We visited Hunyadi Castle, also known as Corvin Castle on Wednesday the 21st of August, 2024. My interest in going here is that its the wonder of the Magyar civilization in the game Age of Empires II. Since the wonder is in Hunedoara in Transylvania and not connected by rail, we did it as a day trip from the city of Deva Getting to Hunedoara from Deva We arrived in Deva from Bucharest the evening before. It was a long train ride. With three nights booked in Deva for two full days, I wanted to frontload the visit to CorvinContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 85: Tulcea to Murighiol – Sulina, Speedboats, and Shortcuts
These events happened on Monday the 5th of August. We paddled from Tulcea to Murighiol in the Danube Delta. On the way, we said hi and bye to the Sulina Branch of the Danube and took a right to stay in the Sfântu Gheorge Branch. Departing Tulcea for Murighiol The alarm woke me but I fell asleep right away. Jonas came to wake me up at 6:00. I don’t think I’ve ever been this narcoleptic on a kayak day. I simply could not wake up. After sharing a banana, Jonas and got dressed and packed up. Then we walked toContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 84: Isaccea to Tulcea – Entering the Danube Delta, the End is Near
This kayak day happened on the 29th of July, 2024. We paddled from Isaccea to Tulcea in Romania. We followed the Danube that forms the border between Romania and Ukraine till the split that marks the official start of the Danube Delta. The Kiliya (aka Chilia) Branch took a left, and we followed the Tulcea Branch (future Sulina and Sfântu Gheorge branches) to the right. Leaving Isaccea for Tulcea When we continued from Isaccea to Tulcea, we knew it wasn’t a long day. Initially, Jonas had miscalculated something and said that the distance between the two was 50 kilometers justContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 83: Galați to Isaccea – Bombed Grain Silos in Reni, Kayaking the Ukrainian–Romanian Border Danube
This happened on the 27th of July, 2024. We paddled away from Galați to Isaccea on the Romanian side of the Danube. The Danube here flows past Giurgiulești in Moldova, followed by Reni and Orlivka in Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast. As russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine rages on and this is an EU outer border, we stuck to the Romanian side and did not cross Leaving Galați for Isaccea Waking up at 5:35, I immediately noticed my throat hurt. We turned off the aircon – which might have been the cause of the painful throat – and prepared to kayak toContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 82: Brăila to Galați – The Last Bridge Across the Danube
This kayak day happened on the 20th of July, 2024. Jonas and I paddled the Danube from Brăila to Galați. This was a relatively short day between two major Romanian cities. Leaving Brăila for Galați Because we only had about 20 kilometers to kayak, we woke up at Hotel RaAy without an alarm. With some instant coffee, we finished packing up at a leisurely pace. Jonas was looking ready for the summer with his new haircut. The forecast said that the headwind should get less the longer we waited, so we tried to find a balance between leaving late forContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 81: Hârșova to Brăila! – An Unexpected 70-Kilometer Day in the Vâlciu Branch
The 81st day of the Danube kayaking trip occurred on Wednesday, the 17th of July, 2024. We paddled from Hârșova through the Vâlciu Branch, intending to go camping. However, things were going well, so we decided to paddle on to Brăila. Brăila is Romania’s biggest city on the Danube River. Leaving Hârșova Before Dawn I got up at 4:00 after a long night of waking up several times thinking it’s time to get paddling. After putting on some clothes, I crossed the hotel’s hallway to our bathroom several times to get ready. Jonas got up 15 minutes later. We putContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 80: Cernavodă to Hârșova – Third Leak + Swimming Cows
This kayak day happened on the 15th of July, 2024. We kayaked from Cernavodă to Hârșova with a very leaky left air chamber and quite a strong headwind. Leaving Cernavodă for Hârșova… THIRD LEAK! My alarm went off at 5:00 and Jonas’ at 5:30. I’d had an unsettling dream about kayaking, but I quickly forgot what it was about when awake and getting into the paddle day grind. We left the hotel a little before 6:00. There was a lady near reception who asked us if we’d used anything from the minibar in Romanian. I said no, and we leftContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 79: Rasova to Cernavodă – Danube–Black Sea Canal
This happened on Friday the 12th of July, 2024. We had a short kayaking day from Rasova to Cernavodă. Cernavodă is where the third-to-last bridge crosses the Danube and where the Danube–Black Sea Canal splits off to Constanța at the Black Sea. Leaving Rasova for Cernavodă Jonas woke up before my alarm at 6:30. For a paddling day on the Danube, 6:30 is late to start out. But we only have roughly 15 kilometers to cover. I got dressed and went to the bathroom to do my hair while Jonas prepared some coffee. Mimi was already out and about inContinue reading
Kayak Trip Day 78: Ostrov to Rasova – the Danube at Dawn + Headwind in Romania
This Danube kayaking day happened on Wednesday the 10th of July, 2024. We paddled from Ostrov to Rasova in Romania. Leaving Ostrov for Rasova With Zucchini down by the river and the dogs barking at every noise, I didn’t catch much sleep. When my alarm went off at 4:30, I was quite ready to roll out of bed and begin the prep for today’s ~50 kilometers to kayak. I noticed my fresh mosquito bites running over a dozen. Jonas woke up a little later. He made sure we didn’t forget our sandwiches. We finished packing and left the room atContinue reading